George case



(No Model.)

G. CASE. APPARATUS FOR IGNITING FIRE UNDER STEAM BOILERS OI STEAM D FIRE ENGINES. No. 473,415. Patented Apr. 19, 1892.

UNrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE CASE, OF PATERSON, NEWV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF SEVEN-EIGHTHS TO WOOD MOKEE, OF SAME PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR IGNITING FIRE UNDER STEAM-BOILERS OF STEAM FIRE-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 473,415, dated April 19, 1892. Application filed December 1, 1891. Serial No. 413,668- (No model.)

To on whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE CASE, of the city of Paterson, in the county of Passaic and State of NewJersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Igniting the Fire under Steam-Boilers of Steam Fire-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

I accomplish this by the mechanism illusxo trated in the accompanying drawings, in

whicht Figure 1 is an elevation of part of a steam fire-engine, showing the application of my apparatus. Fig. 2 is a detailed vertical eleva- I 5 tion of apparatus. Fig. '3 is a part plan of engine, showing location of apparatus. Fig. 4

1 is a part plan view of the same. Fig. 5 is a detailed elevation of the releasing or disengaging device.

The object of my invention is to rapidly and thoroughly light the fire in the boiler of a steam fire-engine at any moment that the necessity arises, when the engine is on its way to a fire or when leaving the engine-house,

enabling the engineer in charge of the engine so to time the ignition of the kindling-fuel in the fire-box of the boiler that he may have steam at a good pressure when he arrives at the scene of operation without losing water by 0 the steam blowing off or by steam being raised too early, and also saving the relaying of the kindling-fuel in the event of the fire not being lighted, as in the case of a false alarm or the fire being a slight one. The material forming the igniting material being made so inflammaible and the arrangement of the pan containing the ignitor located directly under the center of the grate-bars insures a perfect and thorough lighting of the combustibles placed in the firebox of the boiler. Another advantage is obviousnamely, that the fire can belighted in the boiler by the engineer from his stand at the rear of the engine, and also by the driver from his seat on the driving-box, which is of inestimable value when the driver starts with the engine alone on a sudden call. I would mention that the means of lighting by a gasjet under the fire-bars, which turns on full when the engine moves, and also the method of lighting by a torch applied through the firedoor on the top of the fuel are both uncertain,

as many causes assist their failure, such as Wind, snow, dampness of kindlings, due.

I will now proceed to more fully describe the construction of my newly-invented device.

A represents aboiler of asteam fire-engine O of the usual construction. At the lower portion or fire-box A and inside of the wheel D is located the coal-box B, to which, by suitable bolts e e, is secured at its end the frame cl, Figs. 1 and 2. The frame dis provided with an upper projecting lug or arm d and a lower one of similar form d both being provided with holes, through which the vertical rod f passes. Rod f is provided with a stop-collar g, with the arm 9' secured to the collar g by the screws The collar g rests on the upper lug d of the bracket (1 and keeps it in posi tion vertically. On the lower extremity of 7d the rodf is secured an arm I), at the end of which is formed the lighting-pan a, which is formed square and moderately deep to receive the lighting material a and the bottle containing igniting fluid a, Figs. 2, 3, and L.

On one of the inner sides of the box a is formed a hollow projection a to receive the end of the bottle a, its opposite end or neck resting in a hollow part formed in the upper edge of the opposite side of the box a, so as to support the bottle firmly some distance above the kerosene-soaked waste or kindling laid in its bottom, Fig. 2.

Forming part of the rod 60 or suitably secured to the same is a catch or hooked breaker a which rests on the bottle a when in position, and which is held in contact by the spring S operating on the spring-block a The rod is looselyinserted in holes formed in the sides of the boxa and secured by the nut 0 a On the upper part of the rod f is secured the handle f, operating the device with its arm f Figs. 2 and 4. On the pivot hiwhich is secured to a suitable part of the boiler, is a loosely-pivoted releasing-catch h, with its 5 handle 7L2, provided with an indented tooth to embrace the arm of the handle h and which when in engagement secures the same firmly, Fig. 5. At the outer end of the catch h is a trigger or releasing-lever having a releasing- I00 heel 77, formed on one end and an eye to re ceive the cord h at the other. From the eye of the catch it a cord h is taken vertically to the roller or pulley 70, over which it passes, and then is taken horizontally to the drivers seat in the front part of the engine, where it terminates, being provided with a loop and secured to a suitable hook. The catch h is pivoted to the catclrarm or releasing-haudle 71. by the pivot h", Fig. 5. At the lower end of the rod f and surrounding the same is a hollow spiral spring S,one end of which is secured by the nut S to the lower arm (1 01? the bracket (Z. The otherend S is extended out ward a sufficient distance and looped around the arm Z), which it embraces firmlyand gives to the arm Z) a motion, when the catch h is released either by the cord 7L or the handle 7L2, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5.

I will now describe the operation of my newly-invented device. The handle-f of the lever f is drawn forward until the pan a is clear from under the bottom A of the boiler A by means of the rodf partly revolving in the arms (Z (Z of the bracket (Z, the spring 8 being at the same time placed in strong tension and imparting its gathered force to the arm I) of the pan or by its loop 3 \Vhen in its right position, the indentedpart of the catch 7L2 falls down over and secures the handle f with its armf firmly, Fig. The pan to is then filled with cotton waste a well soaked in kerosene-oil and covered partially with a powder composition, which when attacked by the chemical solution that is contained in the bottle a instantly produces vivid combustion. The bottle a, containing the mixture or solution, is placed in the holder at, with its neck resting on the oppositeedge of the side of pan a, Fig. 2, the catch for breaking a on its rod a being raised to permit the insertion of the bottle a, and lowered, so that the spring 8 operating on the block a of the rod a and breaker-catch (L2, presses the bottle firmly and retains it in position free from vibration, due to the travel of the engine on its way to duty. The kindling-s, coal, &c., being laid ready in the fire-box A and an alarm or call being given for duty, the engineer may use his judgment as to the proper time to light up,whether in the house or on the road. In either event, to light the fire 110 depresses the handle 7z disengaging the handle or arm f, with its handlef, the springs being held stationary at one end by the nut s, and securing the same to the arm (1 of the bracket (Z allows the tension of the spring 5 to be discharged by partly revolving the rod f and throwing the pan (6 on the arm h under the boiler A and nearly under the center of the grate-bars. During the revolution of the rod f and the swing of the arm I) with the pan (L the projecting part of the breaking-catch c which stands some distance above the pan a and above the lower edge of the fire-box A of the boiler A, and which is formed tapering on its upper edge, is driven downward to allow its passage under the boiler, breaking the glass bottle a, and its contents mingling with the powder scattered over the kerosenesoaked waste instant-1y causes an intense and vivid flame, which, spreading itself all over the under side of the grate-bars, immediately ignites the kindlings and fuel placed in the fire-box of the boiler A. The combustibles in the pan a are sutlicient in quantity and bulk to well insure the thorough lighting of the tire. In the event of the engine being taken out by the driver alone, at the proper time he pulls the cord it forward, which, by means of the roller 7t transferring a horizontal strain to a vertical one, lifts the end of the trigger-catch 7t, which, being pivoted on the pivot h, depresses the heel h, which, forcing against the arm or lever of the rod 1, raises the catch 7L2 on its pivot 7L releasing the bandle f and arm f as before described. Vhen the tire is well lighted, the pan a-is drawn from under the fire-grate and the handle locked in position, as shown in Fig. 3, and the pan recharged with combustibles, &c., ready for another application, as described.

W'ith this description of my inventiornwhat I claim is- 1. In lighting apparatus for steam fire-engines, a frame provided with an upper and a lower projecting arm or lug, said frame socured to the end of the coal-box of a steam fire-engine or otherwise suitably located, said lugs or arms being provided with holes, a vertical rod passing through said holes, a stopcollar with arm secured thereto and resting upon the upper lug of said frame, an arm secured to the lowerextremityof said vertical rod at the end of said arm, a lighting-pan formed to receive waste saturated with oil or other lighting material, one of the inner sides of said pan or box being provided with a hollow projection to receive the end of a bottle, the opposite side of said box having a hollow part formed on its upper edge to receive and support the neck of the bottle, a bottle containing igniting-fluid, placed horizontally in said lighting pan or box above the soaked waste or other material laid in its bottom, a rod loosely inserted in holes formed in the sides of said lighting-pan near one end thereof, one end sccured by nut on the outside of pan, the other end having secured to it on the outside of pan a spring-block, a spring secured to the out side of said pan so as to operate on said springblock, a hook-breaker forming a part of or suitably secured to said last-mentioned rod inside of the lighting-pan, said hook-breaker formed tapering on its upper edge and projecting above said pan and above the lower edge of engine fire-box and resting upon and held in contact with the bottle by means of the spring operating on said spring-block, an arm secured to the upper end of said vertical rod and provided with a handle, a releasingcatch provided with and connected by pivot to a handle, and an indented tooth to grip the arm of the handle secured to the vertical rod, loosely pivoted to some suitable part or portion of the engine-boiler, a releasing-lever or trigger having a heel formed on one end and an eye on the other end to receive a cord, a cord secured to said eye,a pulley attached to engine-boiler, over which the cord is taken vertically and then horizontally to the drivers seat in front part of engine and there secured in any appropriate manner, a hollow spiral spring surrounding the lower portion of the vertical rod, one end looped about the arm which is secured to lower end of said vertical rod and the other end secured by a nut to the lower projecting lug on frame, all constructed as shown and described, and for the purpose specified.

2. In. a device for kindling a fire in steam fire-engines, a vertical rod, an arm secured to the lower extremity thereof, a lighting-pan formed to receive waste saturated with oil or other inflammable material, secured to the end of said arm, one of the inner sides of said pan provided with a hollow projection to receive the' end of a bottle, the DPPOSite side of said pan having ahollow part formed on its upper edge to receive and support the neck of bottle, a bottle containing ignitingfiuid placed horizontally in said pan above the soaked Waste or other' material laid in its bottom, a rod inserted loosely and horizontally through holes formed in the sides of said lighting-pan near one end thereof, one end of said rod secured by a nut on the outside of pan, a spring-block secured to the other end on the outside of said pan, aspring secured to the outside of said pan, so as to operate on said spring-block, a hooked breaker forming a part of or suitably secured to said last-mentioned rod inside of the lighting-pan, said hooked breaker formed tapering on its upper edge and projecting above said pan and above the lower edge of engine fire-box and restingupon and held in contact with the bottle by means of the spring operating on said spring-block, said vertical rod being provided at its upper extremity with an arm and handle and mounted loosely in any frame or bracket suitably located and secured to engine, so that by turning the handle to throw the lighting-pan under the engine fire-grates the upper tapered edge of the hooked breaker will come in contact with the lower edge of the engine fire-box and cause it to break the bottle, as shown and described, and for the purpose specified.

3. In fire-igniting apparatus for steam fireengines, a lighting-pan formed to receivewaste saturated with oil or other lighting material, one of the inner sides of said pan or box provided with a hollow projection to receive the end of a bottle, the opposite side of box havinga hollow part formed on its upper edge to receive and support the neck of the bottle, a bottle containing igniting-fluid placed horizontally in said lighting pan or box above the soaked waste or othermaterial laid in its bottom, a rod loosely inserted in holes formed in the sides of said lighting-pan near one end thereof,one end secured bya nut on theoutside of pan, the other end having secured to it on the outside of pan aspring-block, a spring secured to outside of said pan, so as to operate on said spring-block, a hooked breaker forming a part of or suitably secured to said last-mentioned rod inside of the lighting-pan, said hooked breaker formed tapering on its upper edge and projecting above said pan and above the lower edge of engine fire-box and resting upon and held in contact with the bottle by means of the spring operating on said springblock, constructed substantially as shown and described,and for the purpose specified.

GEORGE CASE.

WVitnesses:

JAMES RANKIN, J NO. S. MAsoHAMP. 

